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Manila Bulletin devider Technews devider A passport to cashless travel

A passport to cashless travel

Published Mar 6, 2024 06:42 am

Thanks to advancements in cashless technology, travelers now have more options for managing their finances while abroad.  The traditional carrying and exchanging cash is no longer the only option.  Mind you, even for a seasoned traveler, navigating unfamiliar currencies and exchange rates can be a headache.

Good news jetsetters,  GCash makes traveling worry-free and hassle-free even if you go cashless with GCash Global Pay.   Available in Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, Spain and Qatar, GCash Global Pay in partnership with Alipay+ lets you pay in stores with your GCash wallet.  

In their recent trip to Japan, Megan Young and Mikael Daez traveled cashless.  Armed with their best travel companion, GCash, here is what they discovered:

 

MIK AND MEG - Global Pay 2.png

 

Cashless convenience

With GCash Global Pay, powered by Alipay+, there will be no more grappling with unfamiliar currencies that often lead to delays and sometimes being charged too much.  Using GCash, you can easily pay for your purchases at stores by using your GCash wallet as your payment method.  All you need to do is scan a QR code for a fast and contactless payment experience.  Mikael explains, "When you pay with GCash, you ensure that you always pay the right amount.  Also, GCash is securely linked to your wallet, so you don't have to deal with cash and the different currencies, which is a great help especially for first-time travelers to Japan or any other country."

To check if GCash is accepted as a payment method, look for the Alipay+ sign at the checkout counter when shopping in retail stores, shopping malls or convenience stores.  When spotted, through the GCash app,  scan the QR code or generate your own code for the merchant to scan.

 

How to pay abroad.png

 

GCash Card

For establishments or areas with no data connection and can only accept cards, GCash introduces the GCash Card.  GCash Card is linked to your GCash wallet which allows you to make secure payments with just a simple tap.  This guarantees fast and seamless transactions with no additional or surprise fees.  Megan shares, "One of the reasons I think the card is such a big help for travelers is that it covers all the possibilities and shows that we can all use GCash abroad.  You can scan to pay and if that's not possible, there's still the option to pay with the GCash Card."

Aside from the convenience, GCash opens doors for exclusive promos and discounts for users to enjoy.  
 

Reduced Fees and additional benefits

GCash Global Pay eliminates the hassle of long lines at currency exchange counters that oftentimes come with a service fee.  In addition, GCash has a real-time conversion feature that lets you view your GCash balance in the local currency.  This not only saves you time, but money as well.

 

Global Pay Screens.png

 

With GCash, it's time to enjoy the freedom of cashless transactions when traveling.  Although carrying and exchanging cash is no longer the only way to go, let me note that cash is not entirely obsolete.  it's still a good idea to be prepared with some local cash for certain situations.

Related Tags

GCash GCash Global Pay
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